All You Need To Know About Moving To Canada As A Truck Driver

In the past few years, the lack of truck drivers has gotten so bad that it has gone from a problem for the trucking industry to a national crisis.

Many things, like the recent pandemic and the aging driver population, have caused the number of truck drivers in Canada to drop exponentially.

Pandemic Effect

As we saw, the pandemic was the leading cause of the steepening curve of the decreasing number of drivers. This decrease also affected trucking companies, which in turn caused even more drivers to lose their jobs.

Aging Workforce

The trucking industry was already in decline before the pandemic because of an aging workforce.

Pre-pandemic data shows most truck drivers with an average age of 65 are either retired or laid off for health reasons. It is thought that 55–60% of the driver shortage is due to truck drivers retiring.

The Need for Truck Drivers

Because of the pandemic and the aging workforce, there is a huge shortage of truck drivers in the industry.

If this trend continues, the federal government thinks there will be a shortage of about 23,000 drivers in the next ten years.

This is now a national problem, and trucking companies are hiring drivers from other countries to fill the empty spots.

Multiple Pathways for Truck Drivers to Migrate to Canada

Canada's national referencing system for occupations, the National Occupation Classification (NOC), categorizes and regulates all the occupational data for all its attributive services.

The NOC, under its statistical classification 7511- for Transport truck drivers, defines truck drivers as operators of heavy trucks that transport goods and materials within the urban and interurban areas and over local and international routes.

If the candidate's job description matches the truck driver job classification, they can try to move to Canada by:

1. Express Entry

International truck drivers are eligible to apply using this Express Entry system. The Express Entry stream is an online application management system run by the Canadian government. It helps skilled workers who want to live in Canada permanently organize and process their applications.

The federal government handles the screening of the applicant to determine their eligibility for a specific Express Entry program. Eligible candidates are ranked with a point-based system called CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System).

The CRS ranks candidates according to linguistic proficiency, education credential assessments, work experiences, age, etc. Candidates with high scores receive an ITA (invitation to apply) to which they can apply for Canadian immigration.

There are three main federal economic immigration programs under the Express Entry system. These three programs are by far the most prominent immigration pathways.

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

FSWP is the most popular program for international applicants under the Express Entry system. It is for skilled workers who satisfy the fundamental prerequisites.

To qualify for this program, the candidate must possess a minimum of one year of working experience, a 7 in the CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) score, and an FSWP point of at least 67/100.

Federal Skill Trades Program (FSTP)

FSTP is only attainable for candidates seeking permanent residence to qualify for a specific skill trade. The candidates in this program must have two years at minimum skill trade working experience, at least a year of a full-time job in Canada, and meet the necessary criteria for language proficiency.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

CEC is a program specifically aimed at candidates who have already engaged in at least a year of skilled workers in Canada. For non-NOC TEER (Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities categories), they must have a minimum CLB of 5.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) are province-specific programs. Because provincial jurisdiction matters in Canada, immigration requirements vary for truck drivers.

Furthermore, because the programs are distinct to each province, the likelihood of applicants under the PNP getting selected directly depends on what a particular province needs.

Generally, the requirements for interested candidates include the following:

1. Proof of completion of a higher level education (secondary school)
2. Demonstration of the required driving skill
3. The relevant license classification

Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP)

TFWP is a collaborative effort between IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) and ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada).

This program allows for a temporary working permit for foreign nationals to fill local and regional labor needs. It also ensures safety and advocates for the rights of foreigners working in Canada.

The TFWP does have multiple streams for foreign workers; one of its significant features is the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), specifically for prospective employers who hire foreign nationals.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming a Truck Driver in Canada

Step 1 : Eligibility assessment via the National Occupational Classification (NOC) for employment requirements.

The NOC provides a well-documented classification of duties with employment requirements for interested candidates.

The 2021 National Occupational Classification version 1.0 has remodelled the skill level structure by adding a categorization corresponding to Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibility (TEER).

These are the employment requirements under NOC 7511:

• Completion of secondary school, high school, or an equivalent
• On-the-job training and experience are required.
• Completing an accredited driver training course of up to three months through a vocational school may be required.A Class 3 or D driver's license is required for straight-body trucks.
• A class 1 or A license is required for long-body combination vehicles.
• Air brake endorsement (Z) is a requirement for drivers operating vehicles with this equipment installed.
• Transportation of dangerous goods certification is mandatory for roles that require transporting hazardous products or dangerous goods.
• An additional licensing endorsement may be required to drive articulated trucks.

Step 2 : Follow the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) pathway.

Detailed information on PNP is discussed earlier. Align yourself with the available immigration program, in this case, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).

PNP is a geographical location-specific program, meaning your job acceptance and visa endorsements depend on specific provincial needs. Listed are a few PNP that prioritize truck drivers:

• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
• Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
• Yukon Nominee Program
• Ontario Provincial Nominee Program
• Northwest Territories Nominee Program
• New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
• Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program
• Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program

Step 3: Obtain a job offer.

Check out the top Canadian job websites and secure a job offer. Securing a job is a very vital step in the process. Apply to as many available transportation truck-driving jobs in Canada as you can.

Check the associated requirements thoroughly before submitting your application to your employers. Note also that Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required for some jobs; the prospective employer provides this.

It is to demonstrate that the local company could not find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill the particular position and thus hired you.

Step 4: Apply for Express Entry. You can use two alternatives to apply for PNP under the Express Entry system.

4.1 Create Express Entry Profile Post-PNP nomination Check to see if the province and territory you apply to have needs that match your skill set. The province usually will send you a nomination if matched. Then you can submit an Express Entry profile showing your nomination.

4.2 Create Express Entry Profile Pre-PNP nomination Start with an Express Entry profile, then specify the province or territory of your choice for the nomination. After receiving a notification of interest from a particular province or territory, contact the province directly and apply to their stream.

Step 5: Patiently wait for the Invitation to Apply (ITA). After completing all the necessary steps, wait patiently for the ITA. The ITA is an electronic auto-generated correspondence presented to Express Entry candidates via the applicant's online account.

Only the candidates who rank highest based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores are given the ITA.

The Bottom Line

Moving to Canada as a truck driver can often mean adapting to using a different currency. If you're earning or spending money, you must keep track of the exchange rates and use reliable remittance services.

One such solution is Remitbee—a secure online money remittance and currency exchange platform operating out of Canada.

Try us today!